Swoosh—

A sword grazed her nose, a spear sliced through the air just between her arm and waist, and an arrow whizzed past her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

Min-young swallowed hard, her heart pounding as she struggled to keep up with the relentless assault.

[Hold the shield, extend your sword to the right, and duck.]

“Hiiii”

She let out a pathetic cry as she ducked her head, clinging to the voice in her earphones as if it were her lifeline in this perilous battle.

I glanced at Min-young’s evasive maneuvers, my face twisted in distaste.

Instructor Hong Jinada was like a wild boar in a frenzy, recklessly swinging whatever weapon she could lay her hands on.

‘What a brute,’ I thought, rolling my eyes.

[Take three steps to your right and run! Don’t look back!]

BOOM!

Even as I gave Min-young instructions, my mind was racing, calculating the next move. The choice of short-range, mid-range, or long-range weapons from the arsenal at her disposal would determine the attack range.

Shrieeeeeeek!

Just as I expected, a spear came flying towards Do-hee and me, a reminder that we hadn’t been forgotten.

Clang!

With a powerful swing of my sword, I deflected the spear that had been aimed at my face, sending sparks flying as the forceful impact sent a jolt through my arm.

KABOOM!!!

The deflected spear pierced the wall behind us, embedding itself halfway through. If that had hit any of us…

Even with Chairman Lina’s power imbued into the sparring arena, death was not a concern, but the mere thought of enduring that level of pain sent shivers down my spine.

‘Man, if she were an actual enemy, this would be straight-up cruel and unusual,’ I thought, my eyes widening at the ferocity of the attacks.

The only saving grace was that her moves were predictable. Of course, that didn’t make them any easier to block, but at least I knew what was coming. And that was thanks to Instructor Baek Seol-hee’s grueling practical lessons, which prepared me for situations like this.

I scanned the weapons strewn across the floor, taking mental notes.

‘Hmm, I’ve got a general idea of the range of weapons she has at her disposal… but that doesn’t give me a clear advantage,’ I mused, my eyes narrowing.

Unlike with Ryu Jinju, I couldn’t anticipate the parrying points, and the relentless, well-coordinated attacks left little room for error.

As I pondered our next move, my gaze drifted to Kang Do-hee, who was running alongside me.

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

Do-hee’s fingers twitched, as if gauging the right moment to join the fray.

‘Now that I think about it, didn’t she go blow for blow with Instructor Baek Seol-hee in a fistfight and come out even?’ I recalled the foundational training session where their skills were tested.

Of course, I knew that Instructor Baek hadn’t been using her full strength back then, and it had been more of a casual test to gauge Do-hee’s abilities, but still…

‘Even so, her speed back then seems faster than this raging boar of an instructor…’

As I stared at her, Do-hee scowled, her eyebrows twitching as if to ask, ‘What are you looking at?’

“Hey, Kang Do-hee,” I called out to her.

“What?” she replied, her tone guarded.

“If it were a hand-to-hand fight, no weapons involved, could you take down that instructor?” I asked, my eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Do-hee paused for a moment, considering my question. Then, with a determined nod, she answered, “If it were just a matter of fists, I might not win, but I could definitely land a solid blow.”

I grinned at her confident response. “Really now?”

“I know that look. You’re up to something weird again,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

“Well, I’ve got an idea for a strategy. Wanna hear it?” I proposed, leaning in closer.

I whispered my plan into her ear, and her face immediately registered her surprise.

“You think that’ll work?” she asked, her eyebrows raised in skepticism.

“Yeah, it’s worth a shot. I mean, we won’t know until we try, right?” I replied, my voice full of confidence.

And with that, Do-hee gave a short, decisive nod.

.

.

.

Following Jin Yuha’s instructions, Min-young had been dodging and weaving desperately, but her stamina wasn’t infinite, and unlike Yoo-ri, she wasn’t a Tanker. Eventually, an attack landed squarely on her.

“Ouch, ah ah.”

Min-young struggled to get back on her feet, but she couldn’t suppress the surge of nausea as she vomited blood, still lying on the ground.

With a furrowed brow, Hong Jinada scratched her chin and approached Min-young, who lay on the ground, her body bruised and battered. The instructor’s expression conveyed her dissatisfaction, as if something hadn’t gone according to plan.

Contrary to her expectations, Jin Yuha and Kang Do-hee kept their distance, circling the perimeter but never closing in. The only one standing between her and victory was Min-young, the orange-haired student with a sword and shield.

Despite the overwhelming difference in skill, Min-young had dodged her attacks multiple times, and Hong Jinada couldn’t help but acknowledge the impressive feat.

‘That keen eye for strategy must belong to the boy over there,’ she thought, glancing at the black-haired youth standing at a distance.

She had noticed his intention to make her weapon switches more challenging by identifying the types of weapons scattered on the ground. And the fact that he had managed to bring out the best in Min-young, a Dealer who wasn’t even a Tanker, was commendable.

Well, it was already impressive for a first-year student to hold her off this long.

“Hmm, maybe I went a bit too hard on a first-year student…” Hong Jinada mused, feeling a strange sense of disappointment welling up within her.

‘I was expecting something that would really make my eyes light up,’ she thought, her gaze flicking to the two students who remained at a distance.

After all, they were just first-year students. They lacked extensive combat experience, and it was too early to expect the fruits of their training to be on full display.

‘But still, staying hidden and never engaging directly… Ah, I see.’

She had figured out their strategy early on. Min-young was meant to be the distraction, drawing her attention and creating openings for Jin Yuha and Do-hee to strike.

However, Min-young had fallen first, and the other two hadn’t gotten the chance to execute their plan.

Clang.

With a soft sigh, Hong Jinada raised her mace, ready to deliver the finishing blow to Min-young.

And in that moment, as the mace descended towards the orange-haired student…

Jin Yuha stepped in, slicing through the chain that connected the mace to the ball, effectively intercepting the attack.

“Time for a substitution,” he announced, his voice steady.

BOOM!!!

The mace slammed into the ground right next to Min-young, sending dust and debris flying.

‘Fast!’ Hong Jinada’s eyes widened, impressed despite herself.

“Boar Instructor,” Jin Yuha said, his tone casual.

“What did you call me? Boar?!” Hong Jinada’s face twisted in anger.

“Oops, I didn’t mean for that to slip out,” Jin Yuha said, covering his mouth in mock surprise.

“Hmph,” Hong Jinada snorted, clearly not buying his act.

“Well, I mean, how could we possibly take on someone like you without some sort of handicap? It’s only fair,” Jin Yuha explained, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

‘So, you think taking on one person with three people is unfair… Are you implying that you were holding back against me this whole time?’ Hong Jinada’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Indeed, Jin Yuha had stepped up, but Do-hee still seemed reluctant to join the fray.

Grrrr…

Hong Jinada’s teeth ground together, a sharp, menacing sound.

“Ah, I see. So, you’re employing a relay strategy. Quite clever, I must admit. Truly a student of the Slaughter Maniac,” she said, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Sway~

She began to swing the mace in her hand, a menacing prelude to the attack that was about to unfold.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The mace spun faster and faster, the centrifugal force generating a menacing sound that filled the air. Jin Yuha’s eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the weapon.

“Let’s see if your mouth is as sharp as your sword!” Hong Jinada declared, her voice filled with challenge.

Swooooooosh!

The mace sliced through the air, but Jin Yuha was faster, dodging the attack with lightning reflexes.

BOOM!!!

The mace slammed into the ground, shattering the floor beneath it.

Instead of retrieving the mace, Hong Jinada let go of the handle and drew a sword from her side, immediately swinging it towards Jin Yuha.

Shrieeeeeek!

Rather than backing away, Jin Yuha closed the distance, charging towards the incoming sword.

He braced his lower body, using one hand to support the sword and deflect the attack, intending to minimize the impact before the sword could deliver its full destructive force.

Clang!

The swords collided, sending a clear, metallic ring through the air.

“Ugh!” Jin Yuha grunted as the force of the blow vibrated through his arm.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

The swords danced, their movements swift and precise, each strike met with a counter.

“Hmm…”

Hong Jinada’s eyes widened, her gaze fixed on Jin Yuha.

Not bad. His body, honed through rigorous training, channeled his internal energy into the sword, and his form was impeccable.

‘Looks like he really learned a thing or two from the Slaughter Maniac,’ she thought, impressed.

This was the first time she had encountered a student who dared to meet her sword head-on instead of dodging.

For a first-year student, his skills were truly exceptional. He had top-tier potential, a rare talent that defied his gender.

‘His talent is extraordinary… Now I understand why that woman is so obsessed with him,’ Hong Jinada mused, her eyes narrowing.

The more she sparred with him, the more excited she became.

‘Let’s see if you can block this too!’

She began to utilize a variety of weapons, switching from sword to spear with fluidity.

Shrieeeeeek!

Jin Yuha maintained his defensive stance, his sword poised to block the incoming attack.

The spear spun like a drill, its sharp edges threatening to tear through flesh and bone.

Gritting his teeth, Jin Yuha twisted his shoulders, his blue sword moving like a salmon swimming upstream, aiming for the wrist of the spear.

“Hah!” Hong Jinada laughed, releasing the spear and pulling her wrist back just in time.

And then, the whip.

Whoooooosh!

With a loud crack, the whip sent the surrounding weapons flying, creating a deafening cacophony.

“Hmph!” Jin Yuha leaped back, unable to find a way to counter the whip’s attack.

Hong Jinada found herself increasingly immersed in the battle with Jin Yuha, an unexpected sensation during a spar with a student.

“Excellent! This is thrilling!” she exclaimed, her eyes glittering with excitement.

It felt like she was reliving her battle with the Slaughter Maniac, although comparing this student to that woman might be a stretch.

But the fleeting glimpses of cold-blooded ferocity and swordplay were undeniably reminiscent of her.

Slash!

And in that moment, as Jin Yuha propelled himself into the air, she saw the opening she had been waiting for.

‘You’ve made a mistake, but a brilliant one…’ Hong Jinada thought, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

She reached for the next weapon, a greatsword…

But her hand grasped only air.

The greatsword was gone.

And in that moment, Jin Yuha’s lips curled up in a mischievous smirk.

“Sorry, but we have one too,” he said, his voice laced with satisfaction.

Swish!

Jin Yuha spun, his sword extended.

“Spatial magic tattoo.”

“You put my weapon into a spatial tattoo?!” Hong Jinada exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

A beat too late, she hastily summoned her magic and raised her hand to block.

Shrieeeeeeek!

As Jin Yuha’s sword slashed through the air, aiming for her arm…

Boom

“Ugh!” Hong Jinada’s eyes widened as she felt a heavy impact, not on the arm she had raised to block, but in her stomach, a completely undefended area.

As she looked down, she saw the red-haired girl, Kang Do-hee, standing there with a stoic expression, her fist still extended from the punch she had thrown.

“Kang Puppy, Bite her!”